Collapsible tube dispenser



Patented'Jan. l, v

'UNl T-ED STATES -Parr-m1" Q F' -,00 'I'UBIDISPENSIB llarflnlkedmeachlcagmm.

Application April 5, 1m, "sum No. nam- The object of this invention is to provide an improved, novel and exceptionally simple and inexpensive form of key for squeezing collapsible tubes to discharge the contents thereof in such quantities as may be desired;

Collapsible tubes are commonly used as containers for tooth paste, shaving cheams, ointments, salves, paints, glues, etc., and the contents are ordinarily discharged. by squeezing the tube by hand atany point between its ends. While the pressure should be initially applied to the closed end of the tube opposite the discharge end, and then gradually advanced as the contents are discharged, this procedure is invariably not followed. Usually, through carelessness, the pressure is applied to squeeze the tube anywhere between its ends, with a result that the tube sometimes cracks or breaks and the contents are unnecessarily lost, or all the contents are not expelled before the tube is thrown away. This waste of the contents led to the adoption of akey for engaging the closed end of the tube and for squeezing the tube by 'rolling it upon itself to expel the contents. I

have found, however, that employing a key to roll the tube upon itself as the contents of the tube are discharged results in destroying the value primarily attributed to the use of elongated collapsible tubes, namely, the advertising value of its surface which furnishes a space for the printing of the name of the product and the name of the manufacturer.

An object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an exceptionally simple form of key for collapsible tubes that may carry with it, or upon it, advertising matter remaining exposed at all times, which advertising material may be used to offset the gradual loss of advertising material on the tube, and, to this end, I provide a structure which can be cheaply manufactured and which will uniquely lend itself to the adoption of such advertising material without requiring the use of additional parts. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a key of thetype described for collapmble tubes that is made of a few simple and readily assembled parts and that can easily grip the closed end of the tube and roll it thereon for discharging the contents as needed, without breaking the tube and without a substantial waste of the contents by leaving a portion remain in the tube.

The key structin'e is further constructed to be easily removable from any tube which is in the course of being used and has a portion thereof s can. (or- 221-00) rolled about the key, so that the key may be used at will upon other tubes likewise in use, there being no limitation as to the size of the tubes which may be fitted by the key.

In its more specific aspect, the inmntion contemplates a key of the type described for collapsible tubes, which is provided with a tubular shank having one end open and a slot extending therealong, the opposite end being screwthreaded for engagement in a head plate, this 10 V latter member receiving a ring about its periphery which retains, between its rim and the plate, the disc which carries the advertising matter, there being no other means employedto secure thisplate and disc within the ring than the 15.

drive fit which is used to assemble these parts together.

In order to apprise those sldlled in the art how to construct and practice my invention, I shall now describe a. preferred embodiment thereof, so

taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view a collapsible tube and a key embodying the present invention, 25

illustrating the manner in which the closed end of the tube is rolled about the key to expel the contents of the tube;

Fig. 2 is a similar-view illustrating the manner of removing the key at any time from the tube 30 after the closed end has been rolled about the tube whereby the key may be used upon other tubes in the same manner;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the parts comprising the key; and k Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Referring to the drawing, the key preferably comprises a hollow tubular shank 2' having an open end 3 and a longitudinal slot 4 cut therein,

which slot is also open at the end 3, but is closed at the other end 5, this other end being provided'with screw-threads 6.

A head plate in the'form of a disc 9 is formed with a substantially central screw-threaded opening 10 for the reception of the screw-threads 6' on shank 2. To limit the distancescrewthreads 6 may enter opening 10,.a stop 11 may beformedbydistortingthelastthreadsoasto cause it to protrude in the path of a plug 7, it

being observed that after the tubular shank 2 has its screw-threaded end 5 inserted in the opening 10, it will be reinforced or strengthened by the presence ofplug"! lying within this end shank 2. L

A ring 12 is provided in the form of a flanged rim to flt over the head plate or disc 9, the flange referred to as part of the rim being indicated at 13, against which the periphery of the disc 9 will press. A legend bearing member in the form of a disc 14 that may be made of any suitable material such as metal, celluloid or the like, is adapted to be inserted in the ring 12 before the disc 9, so that its periphery will be gripped between the periphery of disc 9 and the.

flange 13. Thus the legend bearing member 14, carrying suitable advertising material thereon, may be held in place without any additional securing means to prevent its displacement.

The parts comprising the key may be readily assembled, as will be noted from the above description, the legend bearing member 14 being first inserted in the ring 12 and the disc or head plate 9 inserted therein by a drive fit so as to grip the peripheral edge of member 14 between the former and the flange 13 of the ring. Tubular shank 4 may be next assembled by screwthreading end 5 into the screw-threaded opening 10 in the disc or head plate 9, the abutment 11 limiting the distance the end 5 may be threaded into opening 10 so as to prevent this end 5 from passing beyond the opening and engaging the legend bearing member 14.

If stop 11 were not provided, careless assembly of the parts may result in the end 5 being threaded far enough beyond the opening 10 to press against the. legend bearing member 14, either to disfigure or to displace the same. The

stop 11 allows, on the other hand, the provision.

of a smoothsurface for the face of disc 9, which the legend bearing member 14 covers, so that, if this latter member should be pressed against this face of disc 9, it will not be scored or otherwise mutilated.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the manner of using the key herein disclosed to engage the closed end 16 of a collapsible tube 17 whereby the contents thereof are discharged by rolling the tube about the shank 4 of the key beginning at the closed end and progressively advancing to the cap equipped end 18. The closed end 16 is initially inserted in slot 4 and the key is rotated so that the tube rolls upon itself around the key. Open and 3 and the longitudinal unobstructed slot 4 of shank 2 allow the removal of the key from the tube 17 at any time in the use thereof, whereby the key may be used in connection with other tubes in the same manner.

It has been heretofore stated that the advertising value of the elongated collapsible tube is gradually diminished by employing a key to discharge the contents thereof, such being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, because the tube is rolled upon itself about the key.- To retain an equivalent advertising value for tubes of this type, suitable advertising material may be placed upon the member 14, which will be exposed to view at all times, and incapable of being destroyed. As a matter of fact, keys of the type herein disclosed may be distributed as an advertising novelty by merchant or dealer selling the tube 17. Member 14 is readily replaceable, and consequently, the advertising matter thereon can be altered or varied according to the desires of the merchant or dealer.

It is believed that a perusal of said Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in connection with the herein described method of operation will make the functioning and purposes of the key sufficiently clear to enable any one skilled in the art to construct and use the same. Obvious modifications within the skill of a mechanic, such as substitutes of materials, although it is preferable and advantageous to construct the parts of metal, or the substitution of the manner in which the parts are arranged or assembled, will come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing key of the class described comprising in combination a hollow tubular shank having one end open and a slot extending therealong whichis open at said end but closed at the other end, a disc carried by said shank at said other end, a flanged rim into which said disc is inserted by a drive fit, and a memberinserted into said flanged rim before said disc is fitted therein whereby to be held in position between said flanged rim and said disc by said drive fit holding the latter together.

2. A dispensing key of the class described com prising in combination a hollow tubular shank having one end open and a longitudinal slot therein which is open at said end but closed at the other end, screw threads formed on said shank at said other end, a disc having a substantially central screw-threaded opening therein for the reception of said screw-threaded end of said shank, a flanged rim for fitting over the periphery of said disc, said flanged rim and said disc being held together by a drive flt, a member lying over the outer face of said disc and held in position by being gripped between the flange of said rim and the edge of said disc, and means for limiting the threaded engagement between said shank and said disc.

3. A dispensing key of the class described comprising in combination a hollow tubular shank having one end open and a longitudinal slot therein which is open at said end but closed at the other end, screw threads formed on said shank. at said other end, a disc having a substantially centrally screw-threaded opening therein for the reception of said screw-threaded end of said shank, a stop formed on said disc to limit the distance said shank may be threaded into said opening of said disc, a flanged rim for fitting over the periphery of said disc, said flanged rim and said disc being held together by a drive fit, a member lying over the outer face of said disc and held in positioin by being gripped between the flange of said rim and the edge of said disc.

MARTIN H. REDMER. 

